Break the BarriersMr. Ludvik Machala at CFA

No, this isn't Jesus, the name above his head is just part of our banner at Christian Fellowship. This is my new friend, Ludvik Machala. Ludwig is a very successful business man from the Czeck Republic and is visiting here with our Michal Sokol. Even though Ludvik could understand very little English, he attended our Sunday services, and Michal translated for him.

I always find it a special challenge to comunicate across cultural barriers, and felt honored by the opportunity to share my morning message in this setting. It also reminded me of the words of the Message of the Apostle Paul first in Romans 10:12

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same
Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him

A v tom není rozdíl mezi židem a jinověrcem. Všichni mají
jednoho a téhož Pána, a ten je stejně štědrý ke všem,
kdo se k němu obracejí. (Římanům 10:12)

Paul makes a strong point that No matter what our ethnic or cultural background God is available to us and wants to bless our lives. Paul puts it this way in Galatians 3:28, as he is speaking to the church at Galatia.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free,
male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Není už rozdílu mezi Židem a Řekem, otrokem a pánem,
mužem a ženou; všichni jsme si v Kristu rovni. (Galatským 3:28)

When we understand God's heart, we will understand that He sent Jesus for the sins of the entire world. As we reach out to the world we must reach beyond our own culture and let God touch others through us. Maybe your cultural hurdle isn't a language barrier. It may be no more than just the fact you were born on the other side of the tracks. Perhaps God wants you to share the gospel with a "redneck." Hey, rednecks need Jesus. too. Maybe you are a redneck, and God is trying to get you out of that box to witness about His love to some "uppity up." God just want us to understand that He loves them all. Let's break the barriers and proclaim God's love. Have a blessed day.

*verses in Czech included for my friend Ludvik Machala